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New Brunswick Heart Centre performs minimally-invasive bypass procedure June 10, 2009 - Cardiac surgeons at the New Brunswick Heart Centre in the Saint John Regional Hospital adopt a new, minimally-invasive procedure to treat coronary artery disease. "We're extremely excited about the success we've had with the procedure and the benefits it offers our patients," said Dr. Pelletier, Clinical Department Head, Cardiac Surgery, New Brunswick Heart Centre. "It's been used in heart centres across the United States and within other provinces in Canada and has proven to have benefits that are well beyond those of the traditional surgical procedure." The new endoscopic vessel harvesting (EVH) procedure being used by surgeons at the New Brunswick Heart Centre offers patients an alternative, minimally-invasive approach to bypass grafting. The procedure allows physicians to harvest the vein through a small, two-centimeter incision in the leg, close to the knee, rather than the traditional 15-30 cm incision that has usually been required to remove the vein. Using a long scope attached to a video camera, surgeons are able to see under the skin and to make a tunnel surrounding the vein. Carbon dioxide is then injected into this tunnel to create room to remove the vein and to cut its branches. The techniques used in the procedure have been designed to minimize stress to the leg and are known to significantly reduce the severity of post-operative complications and infections and discomfort for the patient. According to Dr. Pelletier, "Patients who've undergone EVH experience less pain and a quicker recovery, allowing them to concentrate their efforts on rehabilitation. With minimal scarring, they also notice a much better cosmetic result." The New Brunswick Heart Centre has been performing the new procedure since early May and has already completed nearly 20 endoscopic harvest cases. As surgeons at the centre become more proficient at the procedure, they anticipate the majority of coronary artery bypass surgeries will be done using EVH. "We expect that once all the necessary physicians on the cardiac team are trained, it will be available for almost any patient who requires a vein for coronary bypass surgery," says Dr. Pelletier. "Until then, we will try to perform it for patients who need it the most, such as those who have diabetes or are obese and have poor mobility." Last year, the New Brunswick Heart Centre performed over 730 open heart surgeries, of which 490 were coronary artery bypass surgeries. They expect that number will increase to approximately 550 this year. "We're very happy with the advancements we've made to our surgical technology and procedures at the NB Heart Centre," comments Dr. Hendriks, Vice President of Medical Affairs for Regional Health Authority B. "By making such improvements, we're able to further enhance the quality of health care patients receive in the province of New Brunswick." Background Information Coronary artery disease is treated through a surgical procedure known as bypass grafting. The surgery reroutes blood around blocked arteries to improve blood flow and oxygen to the heart. The procedure involves taking, or harvesting, a vein or artery from another part of the body, typically the leg, and sewing or grafting the vessel to the coronary artery to bypass the clogged artery and restore blood flow. Bypass grafting has traditionally been performed using an invasive procedure known as open vessel harvesting. The procedure requires physicians to make a long incision down the length of the patient's leg, usually from the groin to the ankle, to harvest the greater saphenous vein. In addition to a long, visible scar, some patients who undergo this procedure experience more post-operative pain from the leg incision than from the chest incision. Rehabilitation may also be delayed because the incision often makes it more difficult for the patient to stand or walk. Media Contacts Lisa Kennedy, Communications Specialist (506) 648-7916 Sonya Green-Haché, Regional Director Corporate Communications (506) 623-5523 |
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